NEWS RELEASE

November 28, 1996 For Immediate Release

CRIMINALS ARE STEALING GUNS FROM THE POLICE - LIBERALS STONEWALLING

"This information should have been made public before the Liberals passed Bill C-68."

Yorkton - Yesterday in the House of Commons, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville exposed another anti-democratic Liberal tactic. One year ago Breitkreuz tabled a written question in the House of Commons asking the government for details about firearms being stolen from the police and the military in Canada (see copy of Question #4 attached). In accordance with the rules of the House, Breitkreuz asked for an answer within 45 days but the Liberals refuse to provide even a partial response. "I'm afraid they'll call an election before they give us an answer," said Breitkreuz. "The first sign of a dictatorship is the total control of information by government."

Breitkreuz pleaded his case for the seventh time in a Point of Order in the House, "If the police and the military cannot safely store their firearms, if they are at risk because criminals know where to access those firearms, the very regulations the Minister of Justice is putting forth now will create the same situation but nationwide. Criminals will then know where to access those firearms. If we as common citizens place that information in the public domain, how can we possibly store our guns any better that the police or the military? This is why my question is so important."

"We have media reports about guns being stolen from police and military armouries. In 1994, several rifles and handguns were stolen from an RCMP boat in Vancouver harbour. In January 1995, a machine gun, three 30-round magazines and a silencer were stolen from the RCMP in the Toronto Airport. The police firearm was recovered by Ontario Provincial Police in a take-down operation on highway 401 near Windsor, Ontario. Why should we have to rely on the media to report these things? Why is the government hiding this information?" asked Breitkreuz.

"In a democracy, if information is not readily available and accurate for the public to examine, how can we possibly put forth laws which will improve public safety? How do we know those are the best laws we can have in this country? The government complains about the cost of gathering the information I requested on behalf of my constituents. It begs the question: Does it cost thousands to save millions? This information should have been in the public domain before the government brought in their gun control legislation," concluded Breitkreuz.

-30-

For a copy of the new Gun Control Regulations contact:

The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394

GARRY BREITKREUZ, MP - YORKTON-MELVILLE

(November 27, 1996)

NO RESPONSE TO ORDER PAPER QUESTIONS Q-4

Note: Rise on a Point of Order during Routine Proceedings when the Speaker announces: "Questions on the Order Paper"

Mr. Speaker, on November 27, 1995 (one year ago today) I placed Question Q-252 on the Order Paper. In accordance with Standing Order 39(5)(a), I requested an answer within 45 days. After 71 days, Q-252 died on the order paper when the government prorogued Parliament.

I placed the same question on the Order Paper on February 27, 1996. It was renumbered Question Q-4 and once again asked for a response from the government within 45 days. As of today, Q-4 has been outstanding for another 274 days. That's a total of 345 days on the Order Paper, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Q-4 is about public safety. It is about criminal access to firearms from the police and the military. I have risen seven times on a Point of Order asking the government for an answer to my question.

A year has passed and the Government still refuses to provide me and my constituents with the information we need to hold the government accountable for its actions. I even offered to accept a partial answer but still the government refused my reasonable request. Is this what the Liberals meant when they promised an "open and transparent" government? Why are they stone-walling a Member of Parliament?

I am concerned that the government will call an election before they give us the answer. If the Liberal government is prepared to run roughshod over my rights and privileges as a Member of Parliament, think of how they treat the general public.

Mr. Speaker, for the sake of democracy, I ask for your personal intervention in this case.

OTHER TALKING POINTS

1.Are the Liberals more embarrassed by the inability of the police to properly store their firearms than they are about refusing to answer the written question of a Member of Parliament?

2. Over the years there have been media reports about the theft of firearms from police and military armouries:

- a machine gun stolen from the RCMP at the Toronto Airport

- a shipment of handguns enroute to Kenora, Ontario went missing

- firearms stolen from a military armoury in Montreal

- handguns and assault rifles stolen off an RCMP launch in Vancouver

Why do we have to rely on the media to hold the government accountable?

Why can't the government simply verify which of these stories are true?

What is the government doing to improve the safety of these centralized storage facilities?

If the police and the military can't store guns safely why does Allan Rock think hunters, farmers, sport shooters and collectors can do better?

Why does the government charge gun owners for improper storage and let the police and military off scott free? This is justice?

3.I rose in the House of Commons on Points of Order on seven occasions: May 16th, May 29th, September 18th, October 8th, October 9th, November 6th and today, November 27th